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Lisette suppressed a shudder.
    ‘Are you cold, girl?’ Tommy asked as he hobbled beside her.
    ‘No, no I’m fine. Thank you for walking me back.’
    ‘No need for thanks, it’s only two blocks from the theatre. Although I suspect that fine peacock of a lord wanted the honour.’
    ‘He did seem a little shocked when I refused him.’
    ‘And a good thing you did. You’re a lady, Lisette, and never forget it.’
    ‘I fear I am far away from being a lady. Tommy, you know that I don’t even know who my father is.’
    ‘Maybe you don’t, but I wager he was a fine gentleman.’
    ‘That is something we will never know. But gentleman or not that still does not make me a lady. Nor does it make me a soiled dove of the night either,’ she said.
    Lisette was confused. Part of her was flattered that such a handsome young lord would pay her attention, but she was also almost annoyed that Lord Gainswith strolled into the theatre and expected her to leave with him. As if a few pretty little comments would make her instantly lose her head and fall into his arms.
    ‘Oh child, the boy was smitten by your beauty. He was not thinking straight.’
    ‘Hmm, I’ve yet to be convinced. I believe Lord Gainswith may be a spoiled young man who is accustomed to woman falling at his feet.’
    ‘Well, be that as it may, I see that you still carry his token,’ he said as he pointed to the pale pink rose in her hand.
    ‘I could hardly let it go to waste.’
    Tommy chuckled but said nothing.
    Lisette slowed her pace and then stopped. Standing on tiptoes she reached up and gave Tommy a kiss on his lined cheek. ‘I’ll be alright from here.’
    ‘I’ll wait until you go in,’ the old man said as he crossed his arms.
    ‘Goodnight Tommy,’ she said before she ran across the remaining distance. A thin metal staircase clung to the outside of Lisette’s building. Quickly, she scaled the first flight to the landing, then the second and the third storey. Finally, when she reached the highest landing, she paused and caught her breath. Then she waved down at Tommy in the shadowed lane below. A slender wooden door with large panes of glass opened straight into the tiny room that was hers. She turned the handle and slipped into the bedroom.
    ‘Is that you, Lisette?’
    ‘Yes, Aunt,’ she called as she pushed the large bolt across the door. She was about to follow her aunt’s voice when she remembered the rose. She doubted that her aunt would be happy that she had an admirer and explaining it would just toss up too many questions. Quickly, she slipped it down the side of her narrow bed.
    ‘I thought you would go to Benny’s with the others,’ Marie called out from the room beyond.
    ‘No, I did not feel like it. I stayed and put the girl’s costumes to right.’
    ‘Come in here! I do not wish to shout through the walls.’
    ‘Sorry Aunt,’ Lisette said.
    She took a deep breath and walked into the small sitting room. It was furnished with a velvet, plum-coloured chaise longue. It was covered in soft, deep amethyst and blue cushions. Some were silk, others velvet and all trimmed with silver braid. All had been at one time or another part of the props department of the theatre. Opposite the chaise sat a small chair. A long piece of lilac-coloured fabric was draped artistically over its back, mainly to hide its worn seat. A large Roccoco screen hid the tiny wood stove and dresser in the corner of the room. The screen was the newest acquisition into the Devoré household. It had magically appeared the evening before Tinder Michaels was to take possession of the theatre. Three large rugs of varying sizes and designs covered the floorboards. On the far wall hung a large oil painting of a pastoral scene in an ornate gilt frame and, to the left, the window was swathed in an enormous silk embroidered shawl. The first impression of the room was one of opulence but on second glance it was easily seen that each object was worn and faded. In fact